When Josh Schuster walked out of Manly headquarters for the last time in April, he left behind a seven-figure sum of money.
“I walked out of the building with a smile on my face; I’ve never been happier,” Schuster said. “It was a big weight off my shoulders. At the end of the day, we’re human. Hearing and seeing all the [criticism directed at me], it hurts you and your family.
“After, I felt a big weight off my shoulders; a big relief, if anything. I know it’s a lot of money, but I don’t play footy for money. I play for the love of the game.
“When I’m happy, I play my best footy; I’m not really that fussed about the money side of it.”
Next season was meant to mark the first of a three-year, $2.4 million contract extension with the Sea Eagles. With it came the expectation that Schuster would fulfil his undoubted potential, including the late, great Bob Fulton’s prediction that he would eventually replace Daly Cherry-Evans as Manly’s captain and chief playmaker.
Instead, the Samoan international finished his Brookvale stint in reserve grade this season and unable to add to his 50 NRL appearances. In a bid to cut their losses, the Sea Eagles provided a $1 million severance package to get him off the books.
“I felt a big weight off my shoulders”: Josh Schuster.Credit: Steven Siewert
“It’s obviously sad, but I’m feeling excited for a fresh start,” Schuster said. “I’ve got nothing but love and respect for the boys there, all the coaching staff. I have no negativity towards them at all; I’ve got nothing but love.”
Schuster speaks about playing his best football when he is happy, but he has only just emerged from a difficult period where he was anything but. His was a summer of setbacks: a dose of chickenpox, a spiral fracture of his finger and then a calf strain.
“It was a pretty annoying pre-season,” he said. “It was pretty unlucky.”
And then he had to publicly relive the death of his closest friend, Keith Titmuss, in the witness box during a coronial inquest in February. The coroner, having concluded that Titmuss probably died of exertional heatstroke, recommended a graduated 14-day return-to-training program for players.
Josh Schuster showed plenty of promise during his time at Manly before it ended badly.Credit: Getty
“It was a hard time, but it was good for his family that they got all the questions they needed answered,” he said. “That was good, we can finally move on and, hopefully, it doesn’t happen to anyone moving forward.
“It has already started [to make a difference]. All the clubs at the beginning of pre-season have a two-week window to slowly ease into it. We had some meetings at Manly about heatstroke and what not; it’s definitely heading in the right direction.”
There has also been another, deeply personal issue that has weighed heavily on Schuster during the past two years. Only those closest to him truly understand the devastating impact it has had.
“I’ve been battling with some stuff over the past two years,” he said. “That was the main reason I was inconsistent in my performance. The last year I wasn’t really there mentally. I was battling with some stuff off the field that wasn’t making me happy going on the field.
“I’ve got it off my chest now, so I’m a lot better mentally. I’m a lot happier, mentally I’m in a better headspace. When I’m at my fittest and happiest, that’s when I start playing my best footy. If anything, I can’t wait to be back and prove to myself I can do it.”
“I’ve been battling with some stuff over the past two years. That was the main reason I was inconsistent in my performance.”
Josh Schuster
There is no rush to do so. Several clubs have been in touch with Schuster’s manager in the hope that they can pick up a bargain before the June 30 transfer window. They will have to wait. “I’ll take the rest of the year off to get my body right, my mind right,” he said. “I’ll get ready for the pre-season, that’s pretty much it.”
Instead, the 23-year-old has been working out daily, a regime that often consists of two boxing sessions. The aim is to get his weight down for the next pre-season – “anything under 110kg would be really good” – with a view to reigniting his career. He intends to do so as a half rather than the back-rower Manly had tried to convert him into.
“Definitely, that’s 100 per cent the plan: to come back as a five-eighth and nothing else,” he said. “The plan is to use this time so that when I head into pre-season I start well.”
Josh Schuster finished his time at Manly playing in the NSW Cup with their feeder team, Blacktown.Credit: NRL Photos
Schuster grew up as the latest member of an already famous footballing family. Uncle John Schuster was an All Black who also played for the Newcastle Knights; uncle Peter was an Australian rugby sevens star; great uncle Fred represented New Zealand in union; and grandfather David, who he considers his father and even calls “Dad”, represented Samoa.
Schuster has fueled the expectation, adding bold predictions to a smattering of eye-catching early NRL performances.
“I always believed that one day I would be the best player in the game,” Schuster said last May.
He is more circumspect now.
“I’m a confidence kind of guy, but I definitely could have worded that better,” Schuster said when reminded of those comments. “Moving forward, I’m just taking it day by day, bettering myself each day.
“I want to earn my teammates’ respect, putting my head down and working hard. That’s as simple as it gets. No Origin, nothing like that. I just want to earn my teammates’ trust and respect … that’s it.”
